The car tax disc could be axed under plans being considered by the government,
it was claimed last night.

Ministers believe scrapping the discs, which have adorned windscreens for almost a century, would save money and streamline services.

A government consultation, published by the Department for Transport yesterday, suggested the discs could become digitised.

Officials admitted that police could not now instantly tell by accessing Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) computers as to whether a car is taxed. This will mean there is no longer a need to show proof on a car windscreen.

It is estimated that tax discs are currently displayed on up to 36 million vehicles as proof that road tax has been paid.

Motoring groups described the changes as “the end of a motoring era” and would divide opinion among Britain’s 44 million drivers and police.

Under the new plans, even tax disc reminders may soon come as emails or texts rather than paperwork through the post, the Daily Mail reported.

The paper element of the driving licence, which accompanies the credit card size photo-card, is also due to be axed by 2015.

The plans are set out in a Government consultation paper published yesterday by Dft, which is investigating reforming the DVLA, the Driving Standards Agency, the Vehicle Certification Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

“We will remove the need for unnecessary paper, including abolishing the driving licence counterpart and consider the continuing need for the tax disc,” concluded the report from Stephen Hammond, a Roads Minister.

The government has previously denied plans to scrap the discs.

AA President Edmund King said “traditionalists will mourn the tax disc’s passing” but added: “Motoring and vehicle information is increasingly going online.

“The police use number-plate reading camera technology to check car details on their own or on the DVLA’s database.”